I'm a little stuck on his term "neo-progressive" to define him.
I agree with final_girl. He seems rather centrist to me too, although Jeff Chang specifically says he isn't.
I'll need to watch him a little longer before I settle on an opinion.
One thing I did notice starting last night (CBS) is that people are beginning to use more accurate the term "black" in describing him rather than "African-American" (calling him AA completely ignores his white mother).
Yeah, I don't really see that much progressive. Looks to me like a return to traditional capital-C centrist democratistic principles, a la Clinton -- it scares me that it's being billed as progressive at all.
I'm also talking out of my ass, kind of -- I read his speech, didn't listen to it -- and didn't read it terribly carefully. So I'm fairly uninformed and responding as much to the media and the gestalt as I am his words.
Interesting that the media felt it was important to discuss his race at all. Ca plus ca change...
I think he's definitely *talking* down the middle. The question is, is he a progressive who's good at sounding centrist, or a centrist good at sounding progressive(ish)? We'll have to wait and see, I suppose.
Race keeps being brought up because... [newsman voice] "If elected, Obama would be the first African-American senator since fire was discovered." [/newsman voice] Frankly, I think it's hilarious watching all of the fawning. It only slightly overshadows the fawning happening over Gavin.
it's totally true. he'd actually be the only black senator sitting, one of only five ever to have done so.
interesting article in the black commentator website -- what does it mean when a constitutional law scholar says nothing about the Patriot Act in his keynote address?
better a 'neo-post-NOT republican black senator than none at all.
I *did* watch the speech and I hope/sense he's the former... a progressive who's good at sounding centrist.
also unlike Jesse Jr. et al: he has charisma to burn and is telegenic, ie ELECTABLE in post-everything amerikka. hence the fawning.
I think Chang makes some good points but overall its a cynical response to a leader with real potential to rally the folx. Remember this is the Democratic Party, not the Greens or even The UK Labor Party. And it may be Jesse Sr. 101 but it beats the shite out of Kerry's dullard militaristic bragging and anti-gay neo-nudnickism.
admittedly, in the past 4 years 'the left' has been so cowed that things that once sounded centrist like saying the word Gay, now sound almost radical and courageous.
re: the Patriot Act. true, he should've, has anyone?
my take on last night and THE FUCKING PUNDITS/rightwingnuts on Fox etc is the tragic truth that Mrs. Kerry is still seen as a threat (they've as much as called her unladylike for having and expressing her opinions) being a strong mixed race woman whereas Barack Obama is being groomed for greatness (i hope deservedly). Woman being the deal-breaking word. And whatever will become of Hillary?
how is it that in neo/post/sub century U$A women get to be senators, blacks (maybe) get to be presidents? does gender negatively trump race? why?
what does it mean when a constitutional law scholar says nothing about the Patriot Act in his keynote address?
Well, not by name; but --
"John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us."
and
"If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child.
"If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent.
"If there's an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties."
-- That does seem to me to be referencing the Patriot Act, but in ways that even when taken out of context in sound bites, are very hard to misrepresent. And I'm sure that if it could be done, it would be.
"It would be a shame if he is in the process of becoming "ideologically freed" from the opinions of the African American and other Democrats whose votes he needs to win." -from the above article.
ok. agreed, he's moved to the center recently and is obviously being positioned. very sad his anti-war statements were removed from his campaign site.
still believe seizing power from the axis of evil doing rich men (shrub, wolfowitz, rove, cheney et al) is a key first step to restoring sanity and the world's future.
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Date: 2004-07-28 01:17 pm (UTC)Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 01:43 pm (UTC)I agree with final_girl. He seems rather centrist to me too, although Jeff Chang specifically says he isn't.
I'll need to watch him a little longer before I settle on an opinion.
One thing I did notice starting last night (CBS) is that people are beginning to use more accurate the term "black" in describing him rather than "African-American" (calling him AA completely ignores his white mother).
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 01:47 pm (UTC)Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 02:34 pm (UTC)Yes, he's a hell of lot more African-American than I am!
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 02:06 pm (UTC)I'm also talking out of my ass, kind of -- I read his speech, didn't listen to it -- and didn't read it terribly carefully. So I'm fairly uninformed and responding as much to the media and the gestalt as I am his words.
Interesting that the media felt it was important to discuss his race at all. Ca plus ca change...
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 02:18 pm (UTC)Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 03:25 pm (UTC)[newsman voice]
"If elected, Obama would be the first African-American senator since fire was discovered."
[/newsman voice]
Frankly, I think it's hilarious watching all of the fawning. It only slightly overshadows the fawning happening over Gavin.
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 03:32 pm (UTC)interesting article in the black commentator website -- what does it mean when a constitutional law scholar says nothing about the Patriot Act in his keynote address?
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 03:41 pm (UTC)I *did* watch the speech and I hope/sense he's the former... a progressive who's good at sounding centrist.
also unlike Jesse Jr. et al: he has charisma to burn and is telegenic, ie ELECTABLE in post-everything amerikka. hence the fawning.
I think Chang makes some good points but overall its a cynical response to a leader with real potential to rally the folx. Remember this is the Democratic Party, not the Greens or even The UK Labor Party. And it may be Jesse Sr. 101 but it beats the shite out of Kerry's dullard militaristic bragging and anti-gay neo-nudnickism.
admittedly, in the past 4 years 'the left' has been so cowed that things that once sounded centrist like saying the word Gay, now sound almost radical and courageous.
re: the Patriot Act. true, he should've, has anyone?
my take on last night and THE FUCKING PUNDITS/rightwingnuts on Fox etc is the tragic truth that Mrs. Kerry is still seen as a threat (they've as much as called her unladylike for having and expressing her opinions) being a strong mixed race woman whereas Barack Obama is being groomed for greatness (i hope deservedly). Woman being the deal-breaking word. And whatever will become of Hillary?
how is it that in neo/post/sub century U$A women get to be senators, blacks (maybe) get to be presidents? does gender negatively trump race? why?
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 04:21 pm (UTC)Well, not by name; but --
-- That does seem to me to be referencing the Patriot Act, but in ways that even when taken out of context in sound bites, are very hard to misrepresent. And I'm sure that if it could be done, it would be.
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 03:34 pm (UTC)http://www.blackcommentator.com/45/45_dixon.html
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-28 03:51 pm (UTC)-from the above article.
ok. agreed, he's moved to the center recently and is obviously being positioned. very sad his anti-war statements were removed from his campaign site.
still believe seizing power from the axis of evil doing rich men (shrub, wolfowitz, rove, cheney et al) is a key first step to restoring sanity and the world's future.
Re: Hmmm
Date: 2004-07-29 12:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-28 03:21 pm (UTC)